USVI-On-Line

Pool is a must for me. Even if I don't get in it, the luxury and uniqueness of having MY OWN POOL at the house is pretty cool! Part of the vacation.

We won't rent a villa without a pool. I am not sure how much it costs to build a pool, so I don't know how the numbers work out...but I do know for sure that we look at villas in a variety of price ranges based on the situation (time of year, our finances, other family joining us) but no matter what-the pool and bedroom AC are "must haves".

Funny, sometimes I feel like I must come from another planet. A pool is really unimportant to us. When we first started going to STJ, there weren't many pools. People didn't really think of them and people wouldn't have had water to fill them if they did think of them. I doubt that many people then would have been willing to pay for a pool, then pay to have water trucked in to fill it. (It's kind of silly now to try to conserve water when flushing or showering while pools and hot tubs are being filled). There weren't many "villas." Mostly what was available were simple West Indian-style cottages, which is what we still prefer. Our friends who live on the island never had pools and pools were never a part of our STJ experience. We like to get around to the beaches. One year we did rent a place with a pool. That wasn't a significant factor in renting it, but we thought it would be fun. What we found was that we barely used it. If we were bringing kids with us, it might seem more important to us.

I don't know how representative this forum is of people going to STJ, but it looks like we'll have our pick of the little West Indian-style cottages to rent if we go back to STJ again.

A pool really doesn't matter to me...I've never been in a pool on St. John, although I have stayed in villas where there was one. However, I have been looking into villas where we would stay with our kids and a pool becomes much more important.

I am the travel planner for our trips, and we normally come just as a couple, with this last year being 3 couples. Every year I am given strong suggestions (okay - I'm told) that a pool is a requirment. We have never stepped in the pool on a STJ vacation! By the time we're done with our beach day and get back to the villa, we're ready to clean up for dinner.

It's a "requirement" for my DW, but one that historically goes unused.

Obviously the visitors prefer a pool!! - what surprises me is that there were not any responses from anyone who owns and maintains a pool on STJ - You may want to ask around on island for some different input on the construction cost, cost of water, WAPA, bills for pumps and filters, maintenance service, etc. and put it all together to see how much you would have to increase the weekly rate to defer some of the additional costs - I doubt it would ever add to the yearly revenue overall but cost you a considerable sum.
If the cottage is already rented enough weeks a year as it is designed, it wouldn't seem necessary. If you are the on premise caretakers and can do the maintenance and have the enjoyment of it when it is not rented maybe it is a better idea.
Introducing a whole new level of problems into the rental business and being a new source of things that renters complain about, [ toocold,not clear,etc.] may make owning a simpler house more attractive.
Ask some local pool owners if they would do it again and run some numbers.

The funny thing is...we always rule out villas that don't have a pool. However, we get in the pool maybe once when we are there. J and I stayed somewhere without a pool last year and the owner said, if people don't want to stay here because there isn't a pool, that's fine...with all these great beaches, if they demand a pool I don't need them as guests! He was not being offensive in the least, but it really made me think and we didn't miss having a pool a single time!!

Having a pool to jump into after a day of snorkeling is a great treat and part of our daily ritual. Some years ago we rented a small 1 bedroom cottage that I don't think is being rented anymore but it was called Sweet Spice and had the perfect small dipping pool. It was located up out of Lower Carolina but did not have a water view. Book-It used to represent it. Good luck.

DELETED

Have to say HI LEX! I'm from your planet! Cannot begin to fathom wanting a pool on St. John. Oh well, to each their own!

Unrelated VI pool fact:

When Tim Duncan was a kid growing up on STX, he was emerging as a world class swimmer. After a hurricane destroyed the island's only olympic-sized pool, he had nowhere to practice so started playing basketball. And the rest is history.

For us its always been a must - even pre-kids. Typically the houses we look at all have them anyway. We rarely rent anything smaller than 4 bedrooms though even our 2 bedroom in Coral bay had one.

It doesn't have to be fancy but we find a pool fits our vacation style. We get up early, hit a beach, hang until we get hot and hungry, head to lunch, then back to the house for drinks and pool time before cleaning up for dinner. Often we end up in the pool again after dinner. Its just a nice place to chill and relax after a hard day on STJ

You like taking that "dip" yourself...
most renters seem to desire a pool...
new sanitation technology is being used on the island...
you're having construction equipment there any way...
you have sun all day...
the above seem strong pros toward installing a pool, to me

water conservation and construction/maintenance costs seem the cons in this case

personally, my husband and I like having a pool at the villa...especially in a private area

lprof

You hit on one of the main reasons we like a pool at the villa and I didn't think to mention it. We like the clothing optional freedom it provides.

AH

A couple of thoughts:
It doesn't have to be huge
They make special liners that help with the warmth
The pool @ Mill Harbour uses a salt system instead of chlorine...very nice
Non-slip decking of some kind around it
And of course, some shade ie: tiki hut
Something to rinse feet before entering
Oh ya, thermal plastic glasses for drinks around the pool